Worth the Wait: 7 Waiting Rooms to Pass the Time

How much time do we spend waiting?

Waiting rooms are often a place of uncertainty, anxiety, or, at the very least, boredom. Whether you’re waiting for a diagnosis at a hospital, an interview at the office of your dream job, or sitting at the gate waiting for your delayed flight to board, waiting is an inevitable part of modern life.

As designers of these public spaces, architects often face the challenge of making waiting areas and reception spaces feel inviting — even entertaining — to visitors. Psychologists have studied the situational factors that can make waiting so unbearable. Waiting alone, for example, is often more anxiety-inducing than waiting with others. The “we’re all in this together” feeling of community can greatly improve morale in stressful or irritating situations. Not knowing the duration of your wait — or the reason for it — can also worsen the situation. Simply seeing an expected timeframe can calm anxiety.

Given these challenges, what steps can architects take to make sitting in a waiting a room a more pleasant experience? According to Psychology Today, occupied waiting time feels shorter. Simply giving visitors an activity to participate in, or at least a compelling distraction, can significantly improve their experiences in the waiting space. Take a look at these solutions:

The Waiting Room by INABA, Rome, Italy

A temporary installation in Rome’s largest public hospital, this waiting room aims to put a smile on the faces of anxious hospital patients and their loved ones. Typical of 19th-century hospitals, Rome’s Politecnico Umberto has a decentralized plan with different specialties housed in separate structures. Hospital visitors from all areas can come take a break in this playful waiting room in the central courtyard. The designers hope to distract stressed visitors and foster connections between people going through similar difficult situations.

Burrell Street Sexual Health Centre by Urban Salon, London, United Kingdom

The waiting room of London’s largest sexual health clinic is designed to feel like anything but a sterile medical office. The welcoming, informal vibe, large windows and natural light, and stencil decoration make patients feel welcome.

Interactive Multimedia Space by CORDE ARCHITETTI, Padua, Italy

The waiting area of this Italian communications agency seeks to impress clients from the moment they walk in the door. When visitors enter, the space lights up and the walls glow with touch-screens and newsreels. This interactive display gives potential clients a taste of the forward-thinking creativity this agency brings to the table.

AudioNova by LABscape Architecture, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

Belgian hearing-aid company AudioNova incorporates the aesthetic of sound waves into its impressive modern reception area. The fluid, sinewy white and gray walls are punctuated with touches of green for a trendy ambiance. The space helps form a first impression of the company from the moment they enter.

Busstop Park+Ride Citybus by LYVR˚ Architecture and Interior Design, Groningen, the Netherlands

Near the small Dutch town Groningen, this curvy bus stop design captures the interest of bored, weary travelers. The playful triangular design offers spaces for children to play and for visitors to sit down. The structure has no right angles, only arcs and spheres that come together to form a lily-leaf shape inspired by the surrounding countryside. A large timetable gives visitors information on how long their wait will last.

Airport Lounge by Nuca Studio, Bucharest, Romania

This colorful airport lounge is designed to surprise and delight bored travellers in this busy Romanian airport. The color palette enlivens the space while sound-absorbing panels bring users together and block out the noise of the terminal. Instead of twiddling your thumbs waiting for your flight to take off at the gate, this lounge is a pleasant place to order a drink, read a book, and relax before a plane ride.

Department of Probation Resource Hubs by Biber Architects, New York

The waiting room of New York’s Department of Probation is designed to improve the point of contact between the city government and its citizens. The department supervises people who have been convicted of crimes, ranging in magnitude, and sentenced to non-incarcerated supervision. Instead of the typical, dreary government office, the architects behind the waiting room created an open space full of color. Playful “Hang in there!” posters from social justice-focused graphic designer James Victoire lift the mood. Hubs of desks replace the typical cubicles, a choice meant to encourage collaboration and provide a space to be productive while waiting to see one’s probation officer.